Surgical introducer with indicators

Abstract

A surgical introducer including a body portion, a shaft and a sensor is disclosed. The body portion includes a reference indicator. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis and is positionable adjacent the body portion. The shaft is rotatable with respect to the body portion and includes a longitudinal indicator and a circumferential indicator. The sensor is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a distal portion of the shaft and is adapted to provide physiological data pertaining to a surgical worksite. At least a portion of the sensor is substantially aligned with the circumferential indicator. Rotation of the shaft with respect to the body portion causes displacement between the circumferential indicator and the reference indicator. Longitudinal movement of the shaft with respect to the body portion causes displacement between the longitudinal indicator and the reference indicator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of ascertaining physiological data, comprising the steps of:
 providing a surgical introducer, the surgical introducer including a body portion, a shaft, and a sensor; 
 positioning the surgical introducer within tissue; 
 measuring a physiological attribute of the tissue with the sensor when the surgical introducer is in an initial position, wherein, when the surgical introducer is in the initial position, a circumferential indicator disposed on an outer surface of the shaft and a reference indicator disposed on an outer surface of the body portion are substantially aligned; 
 moving the shaft with respect to the body portion such that the surgical introducer is in a second position, wherein moving the shaft includes concurrently rotating the shaft and longitudinally translating the shaft; and 
 measuring a physiological attribute of the tissue with the sensor when the surgical introducer is the second position. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the shaft includes at least one of rotating the shaft and longitudinally translating the shaft. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of comparing the measurements taken in the initial position and the second position. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a circumferential movement of the sensor via measuring a displacement between the circumferential indicator of the shaft and the reference indicator of the body portion. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a longitudinal movement of the sensor via measuring a displacement between a longitudinal indicator of the shaft and the reference indicator of the body portion. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of determining a longitudinal movement of the sensor via measuring a displacement between a longitudinal indicator of the shaft and the reference indicator. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a surgical introducer includes providing a surgical introducer having a shaft including an incisive distal end to facilitate insertion of the surgical introducer into tissue. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of creating an insertion in tissue with the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the surgical introducer within tissue comprises inserting the shaft through an opening in the body portion. 
     
     
       10. A method of ascertaining physiological data, comprising the steps of:
 providing a surgical introducer, the surgical introducer including:
 a body portion including a reference indicator disposed on an outer surface of the body portion; 
 a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and being positionable adjacent the body portion and being rotatable with respect to the body portion, the shaft including a longitudinal indicator and a circumferential indicator, the circumferential indicator disposed on an outer surface of the shaft, wherein the circumferential indicator and the reference indicator are substantially aligned when the surgical introducer is in the initial position; and 
 a sensor disposed in mechanical cooperation with the shaft, at least a portion of the sensor being substantially aligned with the circumferential indicator; 
 positioning the surgical introducer within tissue; 
 
 taking a first measurement with the sensor when the surgical introducer is in an initial position; 
 moving the shaft with respect to the body portion such that the surgical introducer is in a second position, wherein moving the shaft includes concurrently rotating the shaft and longitudinally translating the shaft; and 
 measuring a physiological attribute of tissue when the surgical introducer is the second position.